US is India’s natural global partner: Narendra Modi

Describing America as India’s “natural global partner”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the complementary strengths of the two democracies can be used for inclusive and broad-based development to transform lives across the globe.

“The US is our natural global partner. India and the US embody the enduring and universal relevance of their shared values,” Modi wrote in an op-ed in the The Wall Street Journal.

He said the thriving Indian-American community in the US is a metaphor for the potential of India-US partnership, and for the possibilities of an environment that nurtures enterprise and rewards hard work.

Ahead of his arrival in New York for a five-day US trip, the Prime Minister said India and the US have a fundamental stake and many shared interests in each other’s success.

“That is also the imperative of our partnership. And it will be of great value in advancing peace, security and stability in the Asia and Pacific regions; in the unfinished and urgent task of combating terrorism and extremism; and in securing our seas, cyber space and outer space, all of which now have a profound influence on our daily lives,” he said.

Modi said the complementary strengths of India and the US can be used for inclusive and broad-based global development to transform lives across the world.

“This is a moment of flux in the global order. I am confident in the destiny of our two nations, because democracy is the greatest source of renewal and, with the right conditions, offers the best opportunity for the human spirit to flourish,” Modi said.

“With sensitivity to each other’s point of view and the confidence of our friendship, we can contribute to more concerted international efforts to meet the pressing global challenges of our times,” he said.

Modi emphasised the role of technology in building partnerships between the two nations.

“Our strengths in information technology are especially important for leadership in the digital age. The partnership between our businesses takes place in the comfort and certainty of similar political systems and shared commitment to rule of law. In education, innovation, and science and technology, the US continues to inspire India,” he said.

After addressing the UN General Assembly on September 27, and some 18,000 Indian-American community at the Madison Square Garden in New York on September 28, Modi is scheduled to head to Washington for his maiden meeting with US President Barack Obama on September 29 and 30 at the White House.